Starting mechanism for explosion-engines.



0. GHRISTIANSEN. STARTING MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

- APPLIGATION FILED FEB. e, 1911'. ..1 Q] 233 I Patented N0v.28, 1911. z sums-"sum 1 a; i I

i 517 E I .1 15 5 g pu /Q- C; GHRISTIANSEN. STARTING MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSION-ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED FER-6, 1911.

v Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

I 2 sums-S13E31 2.

nnnni 7';- Q amwm' VGA zfwzt aizde attczwwa UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN CHRISTIANSEN, OF KE NMARE NORTH DAIf OTA.

STARTING MECHANISM 'FOR EXPLOSION-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 6; 1911. .Seria1 No.;.606,987.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, CHRISTIAN Gums-- TIANSEN, a citizen of the United States,- residing at Kenmare, in the county of Ward and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Mechanism for Explosion-En gines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable other's skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in starting mechanism for exploslve engines.

One object of the invention is to provide a spring actuated starting mechanism operated starting mechanism.

Another object is to;provide a mechanical or spring actuated starting mechanism adapted to be wound up onset by the op eratorwithout leaving his seat.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out ina On the hub'of the sprocket gear 18 1sarthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings; F igure 1.

is a front view of-the forward end of .an

. i automobile showing the application of the invention thereto; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section onthe'line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal'sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings. 1 denotes the front end of the supporting-frame of an automobile and- 2 denotes the dash board.

Revolu'blymounted in suitable bearings on the frame 1 is the projecting outer end of the engine shaft 3 on which is fixedly mounted one member 4 of a clutch, said member comprising a socket having arranged transversely'therethrough a pin 5 the ends of which project beyond the opposite sides of the socket as shown. Revolubly mounted in suitable hearings on the outer end of the frame 1 is the usual starting shaft provided with a cranking handle 6 onthe inner end of which shaft is arranged a clutch member 7 cpmprising a cylindrical block having formed therein a transverse notch 8 which when the handle Gispushed lnwardly will engage the portion of the pin 5 Within the socket or clutch member 4 thereby operatively connecting said handle with the engine shaft v3. The shaft 60 is normally retracted to hold the clutch member 7 thereon out of engagement with the clutch member 4 by a colled spring 9. Arranged on the forward end of the frame 1 is an upwardly projecting gear sup ortin frame 10 in the upper end of which is slid ably mounted a horizontally disposed bearing frame 11 said frame having in its opposite 'ends guide notches 12 which engage the parallel vertical upper portions of the" side bars of the frame 10. The bearing frame 11 is adjustably supported in the upper portion of the frame 10 by adjusting screws 13 arranged in the upper cross bar of the frame 10 as shown. Revolubly mounted in the frame 11 is a short gear supporting shaft 14 on which is fixedly mounted a spur gear 15 and a sprocket .gear 16. The sprocket gear 16 is connected by a sprocket chain 17 with a sprocket gear 18 revolubfy "mounted onthe inner portion of the cranking member .4 on the'end of the engine shaft.

ranged aclutch member 19 in the form of a sleeve which fits over and loosely engages the adjacent end of the clutch member 4 and has formed in its inner edge a series-of ratchet teeth 20 which are adapted to engage the radially projecting ends ofthe clutch pin 5 when the sprocket gear 18 and clutch member 19' are shifted inwardly on the end of the cranking handle thereby operatively connecting the gear 15 with the engine shaft. Secured to the under side of the bearing frame 11 is a transversely. disposed bar or plate 21 in which are formed passages through which the opposite sides of the sprocket chain 17 pass. To the lower side of the plate or bar 21 and communicating at their upper ends with said assa es are vertically disposed tubes 22 22 in which and around the opposite sides of the chain are arrangedcoiled springs 23. One of the springs 23 is connected at its upper end to the portion of the chain passing therethrough while the other spring-is connected at its lower end to the portion of thechain passing through the, same. The tube 22 h andle 6 adjacent to the clutch" having the spring which is connected at its lower end to the chain has formed in its upper end a stop flange 24 which is adapted to be engaged by the upper end. of the spring therein while theopposite tube 22 having the spring which is connected at its upper end to the chain has formed inits lower end-'a stop flange adapted to be engaged by the lower end of thespring therein.

By thus arranging the springs and tubes both of the springs will be compressed by the movement of the chain through the tubes thus providing power whereby when the chain is .released the pressure of. the springs will be applied to revolve the parts driven by the chains in a'reverse direction thus utilizing the powerof thevsprmgs to revolve the engine shaft-when .the .clutch member 19 on' the sprocket gear 18' is en'- gaged with the clutch member on said shaft, In order to revolve the gear. 1-53 and thereby turn the chain in the proper direction for together near its outer end by a-unlversal.

compressing the springs in the tubes- 22 22 I provide an operating shaf-t'26 which is preferably formed intwosections connected joint 27. The inner end of the shaft 26 is i sli'dably and-revolublymounted in asuitable bearing in the dash "board. of the automobile while the outer end -of said shaft is slidably and revolubly' mounted in the bearing frame- 11. The inner end of'the shaft 26 is squared which is normally adapted 'ztd'mesh'with the gear 15 whereby when-the shaft 126 is revolved the motion thereof will be impartr ed through the pinion BO and gear 15 to the sprocket gears and chains-thus turning the latter. in the proper'direction. for-'icompressing the springs. The shaft. 26 when thus operated is locked'or. held against retrograde movement and the springs thus held in a compressed condition by means of an elongated ratchet gear 31 'fixedly mounted on the shaft 26 adjacent to the pi'nion30 and; with which is engaged a spring paw-l 32gsecured to the adjacent end of the-bear ing frame 11. The pawl 32 is held-down in operative engagement with the teeth of the. ratchet gear by a coiled spring. 33 'arranged'on one of the adjusting screws 13,

said screwalso passing.- through the pawl andholding the latter in place. The shaft 26 is'normally held in a retractedvp'osition to engagethe pinionBO with the gear 15 by a co led sprlng 34; arranged between the inner side of the bearing frame 11 and astop formed by the universal joint connection between the sections of the shaft as shown. When it is desired to release the chainto permit the spring to -aetua'tej the cranking mechanism the knob or button 29 on the inner end of the shaft 26 is pressed and the shaft thus forced outwardly against the pressure of the spring 34 until the pinion 30 is disengaged from the gear 15 where- 1 upon -the springs. 23 will act to rapidly revolve thesprocket gear 18 and clutch memberv 19 the motion of which will be imparted to the engine shaft when said clutch member i-sengaged with the clutch member on the end of vsaid shaft.

Indrder to engage the clut h memluer 1 9 with the clutch member 4 onthe engine shaft simultaneously with the releasing of the "springs-I'providea clutch shifting lever ich is fulcrumed intermediatelyof its 35 w ends on the front side of the frame 10 and has a bifurcated 'lower end which-engages the hubof the sprocket gear 18. The upper end of the leverisflattened and disposed in v position to be engaged by'the outer end of the shaft 26-when the latter isprojected by i the knob orbutton '29 thereby rocking the" le'ver,at the- 'san'iestime. that .the- .pinion 30' is "disengaged the gear IQ, and. connecting the sprocket gear 18 with the engine shaft; Around the flattened upper end of the clutch shiftinglever. 35 is arranged a guard 36 which limits the; outward mov'ement' of the shaft 26 and upper end of the lever. I

o By providing the springs 33 and the means for COIIIPIBSSlIlg thesame' as herein 'shown and zdescrib'edait will be' seen that power may be"provided for starting the engine 'andfhat the mechanism maybe operated from the front side of the-machine andvmay be kept in readiness to start theengine at a moment's notice. It will be also noted that "if the first action of the springs fails to start the engine that they maybe repeated-1y compressed and thepower thereofapplied to the engineshaft without the operator leaving the machine. Byadjust- .ably securing the shearing frame 11' in the frame 10 the chain may be adjusted and' "any unneoessary slack therein readily taken -.up.- By constructing'the clutch mechanism .between the cranking shaft and the sprocket} gear, and the adjacent'end of the engine shaft as herein shown and described'the op eration ,of.'the crankv handle will "not interfe're ,with the spring actuated, cranking mechanism or the latter with the hands cranking mechanism. Y

From the foregoing ings,the construction and operation cube 7' description taken in connection with the accompanying drawinvention will be readily understood 'with- I out requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form preportion and the minor details of construction vmay be resorted without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advan-. tages of the invention asdefined in theappended claims.

"the cranking shaft, a clutch member carried by said gear wheel to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft, and a spring operating to normally disengage the two clutch members carried by the cranking shaft from the clutch member on the engine shaft.

2. In'an engine starting mechanism, the combination with the engine shaft of a clutch member fixed thereon, a cranking shaft having on its inner end a clutch member adapted to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft whereby the latter may be operated by the cranking shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted on the cranking shaft, a clutch member on the sprocket gear to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft whereby the latter may be operated by the sprocket gear, and a spring normally holding the clutch members on the cranking shaft and sprocket gear out ofengagement with the clutch member on the engine shaft.

3. In an engine starting mechanism, the combination with the engine shaft of a clutchmember fixed thereon, a cranking shaft having on'l-ts inner end a clutch member adapted to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft whereby the latter may be operated by the cranking shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted on the crank shaft, a clutch member on the sprocket gear to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft whereby the latter may be operated by the sprocket gear, a spring normally holding and sprocket gear out of engagement with the clutch member on the engine shaft, a revolubly mounted gear supporting shaft, a sprocket gear fixed thereon,- a sprocket chain connecting it with the sprocket gear on the cranking shaft, coiled springs surrounding the two stretches of the chain, and connections whereby both springs are compressed when the chain moves in one direction to store their power to drive the chain in the opposite direction.

4'. In an engine starting mechanism, the

combination. with the engine shaft, of a @cl Jmemberfixed thereon, a cranking having .on'j'its inner end-a clutch mom-- aimed t eg th clutch member gjd the engine shaft whereby the latter may be operated by. the cranking shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted on the cranking shaft,

a clutch member on the sprocket gear to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft whereby the latter may be operated by the sprocket gear, a spring normally holding the clutch members on the cranking shaft and sprocket gear out of engagement with the clutch member on the engine shaft, a revolubly mounted gear supporting shaft, a sprocket gear fixed thereon, a sprocket chain connecting it with the sprocket gear on the cranking shaft, fixedly mounted tubes arranged around the opposite sides or stretches of the chain, a stop flange arranged in the upper end of one of the tubes and in the lower end of the opposite tube, springs arranged in the tubes, one of the springs being connected at its upper end to one side of the chain: and adapted to be engaged at its lower end with the stop flange in the lower end of saidtube, the other spring being connected at its lower end withthe other side of the chain and adapted to be engaged at its upper end with the stop flange in the upper end of its tube whereby when the chain is moved by the sprocket gears, the springs will be compressed in the tubes, means whereby the sprocket gears are operated to compress the springs, meanswhereby the springs are released and the power therefrom applied to drive the sprocket gears in a reverse direction, and means to shift the sprocket gear on the cranking shaft to engage the clutch member thereon with the clutch member on the engine shaft whereby the reverse movement of the sprocket gears is applied to start the engine.

5. In an engine starting mechanism, the combination with the engine shaft of a clutch member fixed thereon, a cranking shaft having on its inner end a clutch mem- .ber adapted to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft .wher'eby the latter may be operated by the crank handle, a sprocket gear loosely mounted on the cranking shaft, a'clutch member on said'sprocket gear to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft whereby the latter may be operated by said sprocket gear, a spring normally holdin the clutch members on the cranking sha't and sprocket gear out of engagement with I the clutch member on the engine shaft, a revolubly mounted gear supporting'shaft, a sprocket gear fixed thereon, a sprocket chain connecting it with the sprocket gear on the cranking shaft, operating springs connected to said chain and adapted to be compressed thereby when the chain is moved in one direction, a spur gear fixedly on the supporting shaft, a revolubly mounted operating shaft,"'a'pinion fixed on saidshaft to engage said spur-geana hand wheel arranged on shaft :wi hill; conyenient; reach of the isn operator, means to lock said shaft against retrograde movement, means whereby the. pinion thereon is disen aged from said spur gear and means where y the sprocket gear on said crank handle is shifted to engage-the clutch member thereon with the clutch member on the engine-shaft.

'6. In an engine starting mechanism, the combination with the engine shaft of a clutch member fixed thereon, a cranking shaft having on its inner end a clutch memher to engage the clutch member on themgine shaft whereby the latter may be operated by the: crank handle, a sprocket gear loosely mounted on the cranking shaft, a

clutch member on the sprocket gear to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft whereby: the latter may be operated by .the

sprocket gear, a sprlng'normally holding the clutch members on the cranking shaft and sprocket gear out of engagement with the clutch member on the engni'e shaft, a gearsupporting frame, a bearing frame slidably and adjustably mounted in the supportingframe, a gear shaft revolubly mounted in the bearing frame, a sprocket gear on said shaft, a'sprocket chain to connect this gear with the sprocket gear'on the cr'ankingshaft. springs connected to the opposite sides of the chain and'adapted to be compressedby the movement of thechain in one direction whereby when said springs are releasedthe force thereof will drive the chain and sprocket gear in the opposite direction, a

gear wheel fixed on the ear supporting shaft, an operating shaft slidably and revolubly mounted in the bearin frame, a pinion fixed on the operating s aft to engage the gear wheel on the "gear supporting shaft, a ratchet gear fiked on the operating shaft, a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet gear whereby saidshaft and gears are held against retrograde movement,

means to shift the operating shaftwhereby the pinion thereon may be disengaged from to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft whereby the latter may be operated by the cranking shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted on the cranking shaft, a clutch member on the sprocket gear to engage the clutch member on the engine shaft whereby the latter is operated by the sprocket gear, a spring normally holding the clutch members on the cranking shaftand sprocket gear out of engagement with the clutch member on the engine shaft, a gear supporting frame, a bearingframe slidably and adjustably mounted in the supporting frame,

a gear shaft revolubly mounted in'the bearing frame, a sprocket gear fixed on the gear shaft, a sprocket chain to connect the gear with the sprocket gear on the cranking shaft,

springs connected to the opposite sides of the chain and adapted to be compressed, by the movement of the chain in 'one direction whereby when the springs are released the force thereof will drive the chain and sprocket gears inthe opposite direction, a

"gear wheel fixed on the gear supporting shaft, a jointed operating shaft 'slidably and'revolubly mounted in the bearing frame, a pinion fixed on the jointed shaft to engage the gear wheel on the gear supporting shaft,

a spring to hold the jointed shaft in retracted position and the pinion thereon in engagement with said hold the jointed sha movement, tin-operating wheel arranged on the inner end of said shaft, a knobalso arranged on the same end of the shaft whereby the latter is projected against the pressure of the spring thereon to disengage the pinion from the gear wheel thereby releasing the sprocket chains and springs, a clutch shifting lever having anoperative engagement at one end with the sprocket gear on the cranking shafa'and adapted 'to'be engaged by the end of the operating shaft when the latter is projected to disengage the pinion and gear wheel, whereby the sprocket.

gear on the cranking shaft is shifted to engage the clutch member thereon w1th th clutch member on said engine shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing w1tnesses.

CHRISTIAN OHRISTI'ANSEN.

Witnessest- L. F. CLAUsnN, J A. SOMMERS.

ear wheel, means to against retrograde Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each', by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

